RLVD Industry Report: Bicycle Logisticians Continue to Expect Tailwind

The Bicycle Logistics Association Germany e.V. (RLVD) publishes the new Industry Report 2024, which shows a positive development for the bicycle logistics sector. Despite global challenges, the sector has recorded stable growth and looks optimistically to the future.

“Our goal is to shift 30% of urban commercial transport to cargo bikes or trailers by the end of the 2020s,” explains Tom Assmann, board member of RLVD. “This report shows that despite adverse conditions, we continue to actively fight for a sustainable economy.”

The Industry Report forecasts an annual growth of an average of 10%, which is not sufficient to fully realize the vision of CO2-neutral urban logistics. Assmann therefore calls on policymakers to create fair framework conditions for sustainability and innovation. This includes the integration of cargo bikes into public procurement policies, the reintroduction of federal cargo bike subsidies, and reliable funding for the expansion of cycling infrastructure.

Mostly small and medium-sized enterprises

In 2023, around 5,400 employees worked in bicycle logistics. The report shows that most companies are small and medium-sized enterprises. The sector's turnover last year was 183 million euros, representing a stable to slightly growing trend compared to the previous year. In total, 37,650 cargo bikes and trailers were sold for the commercial sector in 2023. 95% of these have electric pedal assistance. Cargo trailers, with approximately 12,000 units sold, are becoming an increasingly significant part of sales. Nicolas Schüte, the main author of the study from the Technical University of Wildau, emphasizes:

“The use of cargo bikes for commercial purposes is not a short-term trend, but a sustainable concept with a lot of potential. We see more and more use cases, from mobile coffee bars to outpatient care, that can benefit from bicycle logistics.”